Scientists Solve 60-Year-Old Mystery of Strange Magnetic Surges Above the Moon

Scientists modeled a nonlinear Kelvin–Helmholtz instability to explain brief magnetic surges above the Moon.

Nonlinear magnetohydrodynamic simulations produced shock-dominated and vortex-dominated KHI regimes matching spacecraft LEME data.

Simulations showed local field amplification up to ~30–40× near surface anomalies and upward-propagating waves reaching higher altitudes.

Authors say the mechanism likely applies to other weakly magnetized bodies, including Mars, where KHI has been observed.